LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Ellen DeGeneres will star in a remake of the 1977 comedy "Oh, God!," Daily Variety said Monday.
Jerry Weintraub -- who produced the original starring George Burns as God and John Denver as a man chosen to be his messenger in the modern world -- told the paper DeGeneres will play the title role and help write the new movie.
Weintraub said he was never sure how to approach a remake of the movie, until DeGeneres recently impressed him with her take on the project. Weintraub said he has received the blessing of Carl Reiner, who directed the 1977 movie, and Larry Gelbart, who wrote it.
"Ellen is a strong comedienne and she has always done material about God and questions about God," said Weintraub. "She will help us with the writing, and using her will allow us to do a proper 2005 view of 'Oh God!' that is hip and modern."
Plans call for shooting the project next summer, when DeGeneres' hit syndicated talk show will be on hiatus.
